Hello Dr. Carol, Peter, and Members of the Rotary Club of Melbourne,
I hope you are doing well!!
Greetings from Siem Reap, Cambodia. Welcome to my first monthly email in January 2026. I’m delighted to share three activities and topics that I participated in, contributed to, and learned from during this period.
I will start with my most important responsibility, education, by sharing an update on my Chinese class. I have been taking this class for about seven months, and I’m currently studying Level 2 of the HSK textbook. Starting a new language in adulthood is challenging for me because I need to begin from the basics, such as letters, writing, and how to pronounce words accurately. However, this is not the main challenge, as we have a Chinese teacher who comes with passion and encouragement, helping and motivating us to improve in learning the language. Every three weekdays, our teacher always uses a slide projector to share the lessons that are all prepared for each section, including the conversation, power words, and basic grammar rules for a practical approach in our class time. Importantly, we have the opportunity to create our own sentences based on real-life situations, which helps us remember them more easily. I truly appreciate CRST for ongoing support of this class, as it is an important chance for me to learn a new language and open for my future goals.
Additionally, I’m grateful to be a part of helping society by joining a reading campaign mission and installing a small village street library mission. This action took place in a remote rural area in Pouk Commune, where I could see a lot of younger children seeming more interested in reading the contributed books. On that day, they were waiting for us in their beautiful school uniforms and were organized by the village chief, who warmly welcomed us. We then prepared the space, arranged the books, managed the students, and made an agreement with the village chief. Our first agenda was to play engaging games with the students to help them feel comfortable with us. Afterwards, we divided them into groups for reading and sharing reflections on morality and their feelings about just reading books. At the end, we distributed and enjoyed the snack together before installing our library and taking group photos. Reflecting on this mission, I appreciate all the participants who actively got involved, and particularly the leaders and village chief over there, who was well-facilitated and offered a warm welcome to our effort. So now a sustainable positive impact through volunteering was created for many students in this village.
Moreover, this month, I had a wonderful three-day annual trip with the big CRST family. I am truly delighted to share my reflections and express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all the sponsors and supporters who facilitated and made this meaningful mission possible. This experience was not just a trip for me, but it was a major turning point in my life. At the age of 20, I had the opportunity to experience new things for the first time outside Siem Reap Province, particularly in Kampot, and to enjoy the beauty of nature at Koh Tonsay Island in Kep Province. Most importantly, many students in Kampot Province were able to learn and receive essential support, such as washable PG Kits, PL Solarbody, and crucial PG and PL lessons that were contributed and taught by our younger leaders [CRST students]. I trust that through our sharing and caring, we could inspire and encourage many students there to pursue their education and accomplish their dreams for future development. Through these memorable experiences, I learned and observed a lot about the lifestyle and current situation of Cambodians. Plus, I have grown, reflected, and gained a deeper understanding of the true value of service, compassion, and encouragement to continue my journey.
That’s it from me about this month, so last but not least, I’m sincerely thankful to you for your support and time to read my monthly progress in Jan; wishing you all my best.
